Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-08-16

me, uwouldn't / be meet Nellie is real
old woman, don't you think sol"
Whatever my reply was TO have been II
was never made, for just then n carriage
came swiftly up the walk and we all rose to
catch n glimpse of the occupants. But we
only caught sight of two ladies inside be-
fore it passed us. For q moment after,
we stood looking at each other In silence.
We had seen tho same thing too many times
not to know what 1t meant, for hardly
week passed that some one did not visit the
asylum intent upon adopting some OF our
number, and we had no doubt but this was
the errand upon which these visitors came
also The next moment the call-bell rang,
and then we wero certain; but still VIC said
nothing, only each taking companion we
quietly entered the hall, The matron met us
and led us all into the long reception-room,
used to receive visitors. There seated III
large arm chairs were two ladies'. ono was
young, not more than thirty-five ana strlk'
ingly handsome Her beauty being Of that
dark bright kind that does not fade but
ripens. She was richly dressed in darlS-blue
velvet, with costly lace at tho neck and
wrists. On her head she wore jaunty hat,
with dropping white plumes that swept to
her shoulder Her dark hair was arranged
about her shapely head in rich coils, and the
small hands folded in her lap were exquls
itely gloved.
noted all this, child though I was, in the
few moments l stood there, and, though
most children would have been attracted
toward the beautiful and dainty-loolSing
lady, only shrank away, feeling n strange
repulsion, almost amounting to fear, towards
her, and wishing could hide myself behind
the matron's ample skirts. My next glance
fell on the other lady, who sat quite still,
looking up and down the line of faces before
her, as if vainly searching for some particu-
lar ono amongst us. She was exactly the
opposite of her companion in looks and bear
ing. / remember, even then, wondering
that they shoGld be together. She was o
woman at least fifty years Of age, and even
more, perhaps, for her hair was thiclkly
gprinkled with gray, and there were hard
lines about her mouth and eyes that spoke
Of ago or care perhaps both, but a strange
look Of suppressed pain seemed imprinted
upon her whole face. But even when youth
had lent her the charm and freshness OF
girlhood she must still have been very plain;
her complexion was sallow her eyes gray,
small and keen rs ferrets, her cheek
bones high, her figure tall and angular,
with large hands and wrists, her dress, OF
some gray stuff, was scant and short; she |
wore q brown shawl and some fiat, ugly |
sort of q bonnet, and glasses. such, IN |
brief, is the description Of those two women |
as / remember them that afternoon SO long |
ago,
The matroR waited until we were all quieti
then she spoke in her gentle, even tones:
'My dear children, these two Indies wish to
adopt, as their own, one OF you little girls.
am glad to say 1 can surely recommend
each and all Of you as obedient and trusty
children, and hope, if this kind lady should
conclude 10 take one of you, you will try
and see the benefit of the change, and act |
accordingly"
This was a set speech OF madam's; we |
had heard it often before, and therefore |
paid little attention TO it, except 70 stare |
more fixedly at the floor
Tho elder lady arose at this and came
slowly down the long line, scrutinizing |
sharply each face before her not as If max
ing a choice, but rather as II searching for
some resemblance Finally she reached tho
at whose side 1 stood, or rather hid,
for felt fear Of tho well-dressed woman;
felt little less than an absolute terror OF
this one, who, with her keen gray eyes,
seemed to sec straight through me. hoped
she would pass me by, but she did not. She
paused, and, laying hand on my shoulder,
drew me out of the shadow into the full
light that came in through the hall windows.
blushed crimson, and hung my head, my
heart beating almost to suffocation, so fright
ened was /, while the woman slowly inspect
cd me from head 20 foot,
'Hold up your head,r she commanded, in
her brusque way. Iobeyed her, She took
,ne look IN my eyes; O CLEAN Of intelligence
flashed in her face. ''The same" she NUT
tered; "the very same. Now, what is your
name, little girll" she inquired.
oDorcas Lynn" answered, shyly.
"Dorcas; yes, yes" Then, turning TO the
natron, she inquired very particularly In
regard to my past history, from whence |
came, etc, etc, all Of which madam an
swered to the best of her ability, giving her
the brief history with which the reader is
already familiar.
This explanation seemed TO entirely satisfy
Miss Armund flor such learned was her
lame), for she exclaimed, almost eagerly, l
thought: "She'll do; I'll take her."
Then, turning to her companion, she in
luired slave you any thing to say, LenaF'
Tho other lady had remained seated, APP
,arently quite Indifferent as TO what her
companion was doing, but at her question
the arose and came slowly down the room
10 where stood. She gave me one look-a
ook SO full Of hatred and malice, that it
to scorch my very soul; but her
tones were smooth and soft hs she an
swered
'If you are satisfied, Maria, am con-
tent"
~ am quite satisfied" answered Miss Ar
mund, in meaning tone.
''Then it is settlod,n answered the other,
md she swept back to her seat by the win